Executive Director’s Message
Written by Larry Tise in the From the Executive Director category and the Summer 1985 issue Topics in this article:Since the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is an agency of state government, it might surprise many readers to know the extent to which the agency’s many programs and projects are supported by enthusiastic volunteers and charitable contributions. In a survey of associate groups’ support during 1984, it was determined that these volunteer organizations contributed a total of $1,649,786.59 in cash and services to the Commission. This figure, which reflects only one aspect of broad private sector support for the PHMC, equals approximately fifteen percent of the total allocation provided by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
Recent data indicates that, during 1984, the twenty-four associate groups assisting the Commission counted a combined membership of 9,576 interested individuals. These responsible citizens gave 99,399 hours of volunteer help in hundreds of capacities at our historic sites and museums. Translated into a meaningful statistic, the volunteer hours were the equivalent of fifty-one additional full-time employees.
In addition to offering much-needed volunteer services, our corps of loyal volunteers provided the Commission with $842,305 in additional cash income, as well as $310,484 in grants from foundations and government programs. At the close of last year, the associates had nearly one-half million dollars in other grant requests still pending. The associates provided the PHMC staff with funding to undertake many objectives that could not be accomplished simply with state allocations.
Among the many contributions made to the agency were the sponsorships of special activities and programs – fairs, seminars, festivals, conferences and conventions, outdoor dramas, tours and military reenactments – which could not possibly have been executed by our staff alone. Last year more than 90,000 persons participated in activities and events sponsored by associate groups throughout Pennsylvania. Without this level of activity and excitement, it would be simply impossible for the PHMC to present the hundreds of programs and features that help the Commission in “making sure our past has a future.”
It is most gratifying to know that the total amount of support contributed by volunteers and volunteer organizations in 1984 had increased by more than twenty-nine percent over the previous year-and by a stunning forty-eight percent over 1982. With the creation of the new Friends of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, I believe 1985 will be an even greater year for the growth of citizen volunteer support for Pennsylvania’s public history programs.
The survey figures are impressive. The data confirms that public history programs in Pennsylvania are increasingly becoming a bona fide reflection of both public and private sector concern and participation. Volunteer involvement in Pennsylvania has not been called on to replace government support but, rather, it has been used to enhance and improve the Commission’s many and diverse public services. We are grateful to every one of our tireless volunteers and to our associate groups for their unselfish contributions of time, energy, talent, leadership and money to help support and share our treasured legacies in this most historic of lands.
Larry E. Tise
Executive Director
